Official Languages
Norwegian, Sámi
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: oslo.kommune.no, thehistoryofenglish.com
Overall9/10More English-friendly than about 85% of cities
Good to know
Good to Know
- Almost everyone in Oslo speaks English fluently, making it one of Europe's most English-friendly major cities.
- English is not an official language in Norway, but is the second most widely spoken language and deeply embedded in daily life, workplace, and education.
- Polite practice: begin conversations by asking 'In English please?' even though English proficiency is very high; knowing basic Norwegian courtesy words (hello, goodbye, thank you) is appreciated.
- If you plan to stay longer than a few years, learning Norwegian significantly improves job prospects, social integration, and is often a legal requirement for permanent residence.
- Children in Norway start learning English around age 8, and exposure through media (undubbed movies/TV, music) begins even earlier, creating a naturally bilingual younger generation.
Official Languages
Norwegian
- Status
- primary official language
- Notes
- Two written standards exist: Bokmål (used by ~90% of the population) and Nynorsk. Oslo dialect (Eastern Norwegian) is informally considered standard due to media presence and use in larger cities.
Sámi
- Status
- official minority language
- Notes
- Protected by constitution; spoken by less than 50,000 in Norway, primarily in northern regions
English Proficiency
- Workplace
- English-first policy common in science, engineering, tech, and finance sectors; many international firms based in Oslo use English as daily working language
- Service Sector
- English is widely available in shops, restaurants, hotels, public offices, and with service providers
- Overall Assessment
- Exceptionally high across Oslo and Norway
Oslo Specific
- English Speaker Percentage
- ~90% of population speaks English at least at basic level
- Proficiency Score
- 614 in 2024 (among highest globally)
- Fluency Description
- Almost everyone in Oslo speaks English as a second language; Oslo stands out as the city with the best language skills in Norway
Nomad Practical Note
It is possible to live comfortably in Oslo while speaking only English; however, learning Norwegian is recommended for long-term stays (2+ years) as it deepens social connections and is often a legal requirement for permanent residence
English Friendly Context
- Demographic Variation
- Best English speakers typically under 30 and in urban areas; however, average Norwegian under 70 years old likely has good grasp of language across all regions
- Tourism Accessibility
- Tourists can get by on English throughout Norway and especially in Oslo
- International Population
- Oslo is a quite international city with many foreigners speaking English and other mother tongues
- Willingness To Speak English
- Norwegians typically switch to English when they detect an accent in a learner's Norwegian; visitors can get by on English in bars, restaurants, and shops
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this language & english friendliness research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Oslo
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.